Today's Fresh Meat

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

In their debate tonight at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Republican presidential candidates are expected to tap dance around President Bush like nervous auditionees for "A Chorus Line." Of course, they are all thrilled to be associated with Reagan, the "Great Communicator," who mirrored Bush in his incompetence but had a knack for staying out of trouble politically. 

GOP candidates could take a cue from Gov. Schwarzenegger's post-partisan playbook, the San Diego Union Tribune editorialized today. While Arnold has hisflaws, he at least recognizes the complexity of the issues, the Tribunegoes on to say. For his part, Schwarzenegger has told candidates theyought to stop trying to distance themselves from Bush and simply statetheir positions clearly and honestly. Regardless, it's looking more andmore like voters will "clearly and honestly" return a Democrat to theWhite House in 2008.

Term limit supporters are taking Attorney General Jerry Brown to Court over the wording of next February's term limits initiative. Theinitiative would allow legislators to serve a total of 12 years ineither house as opposed to the current rule of six years in theAssembly and eight in the Senate. The measure actually shortens thetotal number of years a legislator can be in office, thus making it aneasy sell for a state still wary of "career politicians." Both sidesacknowledge that how the measure is presented will determine its fate.

A group of "pro-marriage" supporters have filed an initiative with Brown's office that would prevent California from recognizingsame-sex marriages from other states. Never mind that the Courts havesaid unequivocally that current law from Proposition 22, whileprotecting the word marriage, does not prevent the state from affordingthe same benefits to all couples.

Race is not the only factor at play in the heated Congressional race between Assembymember Laura Richardsonand Senator Jenny Oropeza, who are running to replace the late JuanitaMillender-McDonald. While both candidates are typically pro-union,Oropeza voted against labor's wishes recently by supporting the newIndian Gaming compacts, while Richardson opposed. If the unions decideto actively support Richardson (and/or oppose Oropeza), it could beover.

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